Web-folding mechanism.



E. KLEIN.

' WBB FOLDING MEOHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 15, 1907.

940;933. Patented Nov. 23, 1909. 52 SHEETSBHEET 1. 5 I v-b E. KLEIN.

WEB FOLDING MBHANISM.

APPLIQATION FILED JULY 15, 1907.

940,933. Patented N0v.23,1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

w/TNESSE v Q /NVE/vrof? UNITED sTATEs .PATENT oEEIoE.

EUGEN -KLEIN, oF DRESDEN, I GERMANY, .assIefNoIxl To THE cAnTiinfcnUME. o0. (LIMITED), or NIAGARA FALLS, NEW' Yoax, a QQRI'ORATIQN 0l) CANADA.

as will enable others skilled in the art to4 which it appertains to make and use the Slllle.

This invention relates to folding mechan# ism,

and' is more particularly directed to mechanism adapted for folding continuously-fed webs.

One 'of the objects of the invention yis to provide simple and improved mechanism for alternately folding a web in vopposite directions, whereby the folded portions are superimposed one upon another in zigzag arrangement. y

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention y'accordingly consistsin the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement `of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which Will be indicated in the iollowing claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated one of the various possible embodiments of this invention,-F1g1 1re 1 is a View in front elevation, certain of thefparts being shown in section better to illustrate the construction; Fig. 2l is -a vertical sectional view, taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1, through the machine near one end thereof; Fig. 3 is a View in section on line 3 3, Fig. 1, of the stationary valve members rovided in one end ofthe folding cylin ers; Fig. 4 is a similar View on line 4-4, Fig. 1, of the valve members at the opposite end of the folding cylinders; Fig. 5 is a view 'in lvertical section taken through the folding cylinders; Figs. 6 and 7 are diagrammatic views showin the relative positlon of the cylinders at iti'erent points in the folding Operation.

Similar reference characters refer to similar the rawings.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 indicates a pair of -upri ht standards inthe upper end of which Journals 2 and 3 are 'Speoigacn of Letters latent,

Application led July 15, 1907. Serial No. 383,908. v

arts throughout the several views of provided fo'r driving shafts 4 and 5, said Patented Nov. 2.a, 1909.

shafts being provided outside the journals at one end thereof with intermeshin gear Wheels, one of which is shown at 6. ower may be furnished to drive the shafts through either one thereof.

Mounted upon each of shafts 4 and 5,

and adapted to be rotated thereby, are rolli ers or cylinders7 and 8, respectively. Shafts 4\ and 5 rotate these cylinders toward each other at their upper portions, so that they may receive the web which is to be folded. Apertures, preferably in the form of elonated slits 9, are formed in each of the cylinders, said slits being connected by means of canals 1,0 Witharc-shaped channels l1 formed in one end of the cylinders. Canals 10 also lead to -apertures 12 located at the op osite end ofthe cylinders.

Seated in one end of cylinders 7 and 8 are valve members 13 and 14 respectively.

These members rest upon shafts 4 and 5 reslpectively, which extend loosely theret rough, are held against rotation by means of depending arms 15 and are held against rotation by bolts 16 which are adjustably secured in arch-shaped slots 17 formed in standard 1.

Members 13 and 14 at one end of the cyll inders are each connected vwith a source of air suction by means of tubes or pipes 18,

.which lead thereinto, said members being provided with canals 19 the mouths of which terminate in their inner faces, and the disposition of the mouths of these canals and the channel 11 being y such that at certain times during the revolution of the cylinders they come into registry thereby connecting the peripheral slits 9 of the cylinders with the source `of suction. `At the opposite end of cylinders 7 and 8 members 20 and 21 respectively, similar to those at the opposite end, are provided and adjustably mounted and held stationary in a similar manner. These members are also provided with canals 22 which communicate at given intervals in the opposite ends ofthe cylinders in conjunction with the cylinders, constitute valves whereby the suction and air pressure are alternately turned on and olf at predetermined rotative points of sald cylinders. Springs, as at 24 and 25, are provlded for holding the several members reslllently 1n contact with the ends of the cylinders.

Arranged underneath cylinders 7 and v8 is a tab e 26 which receives the superimposed folded portions of the web, and 1f desired this table may be made elastlcally depressible by means of springs to accommodate the continuousl falling folded web.

Having thus described the construction of this embodiment of this invention, the operation thereof may now be understood, which, it is thought, may be most readily grasped by making reference to Figs. 6 and 7, which illustrate the position of the cylinders at the end of two of the folding operations. The web 27, which will usually be perforated and will be folded at the perforated portions, is received between the cylinders, the feed being so arranged with respect to the peripheral slits of the cylmders that the perforated portions will come into registry therewith. At this polnt it may be noted that during the operation of the machine, successive portions of the web are alternately held in contact with the cylinders by suction, and carried with the cylinders either t0 the right lor to the left during the rotation thereof, and that at given times in the rotative movements of the cylinders said portions are disengaged from the cylinders by forcing compressed air through the slits which have before been connected with the source of suction.

1n Fig. 6 a portion of the web is shown as having been carried to the left by cylinder 7, by reason of the peripheral slit thereof and channel 11 having been connected with canal 19, which is in communication with the source of suction through pipe 18. At this point in the rotation of cylinder 7, channel l1 has been moved from registry with the suction canal 19, and the canal 10 of the cylinder is coming into registry with the canal 22 which is in communication with the source of compressed a1r by means of pipes 23, so that the airv blast being forced outward through the slits will disengage the web from the cylinders.

Simultaneously with this operation the peripheral slit of cylinder 8 is coming intol communication with the source of suction and the next succeeding portion of the web will be carried about cylinder 8, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, when the web will be disengaged from said cylinder by the blast of compressed air which is then passing through the peripheral slit, the source of suction having been cut off from the arcshaped channel 11 of the cylinder.

The alternate carrying to the right and left of the successive portions of the web effects the folding thereof in zigzag form or arrangement, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It will be understood that the adjustable mounting of the members 13 and 14, which are seated in opposite ends of the cylinders, enables them to be readily adjusted relatively to each other and to the cylinders to cause the sources of suction and compressed air to engage and disengage the web atthe desired intervals in the rotation of the cylinders. The succeeding portions of the web, after being disengaged from the cylinders, fall by gravity upon table 26 in superimposed relation.

It will accordingly be seen that there is provided a construction well adapted to attain the several objects and aims of this invention in an exceedingly simple and eiicient manner. The holding of the web in Contact with the cylinders being merely effected by air pressure upon the opposite sides of the web, the mechanism of the apparatus is greatly simplied in that no mechanical contrivances or grppers are employed in the folding operation.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsshall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l 1. In combination, a pair of revoluble cylinders adapted to receive ,a continuously fed web, and means for forcing a fluid in ldifferent directions through said cylinders, whereby said fluid alternately engages dilferent portions of the web and deflects the same in different directions to su erimpose them one upon another in zigzag orm.

2. In combination, a pair of revoluble cylinders adapted to receive a continuously fed web, and means for directing air alternately inward and outward through the periphery of said cylinders, whereby successive portions of said web are deflected in opposite directions and the web folded in zigzag form. 'l

3. In combination, a pair of rotatable cylinders adapted to receive a continuously fed web, and suction means operated through the periphery of said cylinders adapted alternately to hold different portions of said -web in contact with the cylinders, and air force therefrom the portions of the web.

which have been held in contact by suction.

4. In combination, a pair of revoluble cylinders adapted toreceive a continuously fed web, means coperating with each cylinder adapted to suck a portion of the Web into contact therewith at one point in its rotation, whereby the web is conductedv by the cylinder to a given position, and means adapted 'when such position. is reached to force compressed air. Aagainst the web to disengage the same from the cylinder.

ln combination, a pair of revoluble cylinders adapted toreceive a continuously fed web. means coperating with each cylinder adapted to suck a portion of the web into contact. therewith at one point of its rotation7 whereby the web through its Contact with the cylinder is conducted thereby to a given position, and means adapted when such position is reached to force compressed air against the web to disengage the same therefrom, said cylinders operating alternately upon successive portions of the web and conducting said portions in opposite directions? In combination, a pair of revoliible c linders adapted to receive a continuously ed web, and means cooperating with each of said cylinders adapted to effect alternate suction and repulsion upon portions of said web, whereby said 'portions are held in contact with the cylinder during a port-ion of its rotative movement, said cylinders acting alternately upon successive portions of the web and carrying the portions so acted upon in different directions, whereby they are supei'imposed one upon another in zigzag arrangement.

T. ln combination, a pair of cylinders revolving in opposite directions adapted to receive a continuously fed Web, and means cooperating with each of said vcylinders adapted at predetermined intervals to cause pressure upon opposite sides of the web, whereby successive portions thereof are alternately held in cont-act with said cylinder during a predetermined arc of its rotation and then disengaged therefrom.

S. vIn combination, a pair of cylinders revolving in opposite directions adapted to receive a continuously fed web, and means cooperating with each of said cylinders adapted at predetermined intervals to effect fluid presure upon opposite sides of the web,

'whereby successive portions thereof are alternately held in contact with said cylinders during predetermined arcs of rotation thereof and then disengaged therefrom, the

alternate successive portions of said web being carried by the cylinders in yopposite direct-ions and deposited one upon another in zigzag form.

9. In combination, a pair of cylinders revolving in opposite directions adapted to receive a continuously fed web, and means cooperating with each of said cylinders adapted at predetermined intervals to cause fluid pressure to act upon opposite surfaces of the web, whereby each alternate portion of the web is held in cont-act with one of said cylinders during a portion of its rotative movement and released therefrom' at a predetermined point in an arc of rotation of said cylinder, said cylinders acting alternately upon successive portions of the web and defiecting the same in oppositeI directions, whereby said portions are deposited one ment.

10. In combination, a pair of cylinders Iadapted to rotate in opposite directions, be-

tween which is fed a web, and means coperating with each of said cylinders adapted at predetermined intervals to cause fluid ressure toA act upon oppositesurfaces o the web, whereby alternate successive portions thereof are alternately held in contact with said cylinder and disengaged therefrom, the points of the application .of the pressure upon the web being determined by said cylinders during their rotative movements.

11. In combination, a pair of cylinders rotating in opposite directions adapted .to receive a continuously fed web, Vsaid cylinders being provided with means whereby at predetermined intervals, fluid pressure 1s caused to act upon opposite sides of the web, whereby successive portions of said web are alternately held in contact with; said cylinders during a predetermined arc of rotation and then disengaged therefrom, and valves tures, a memberv connected with a source of suction coperating with the apertures of said cylinder, a member connected with a source of air pressure also coperating with said apertures, said members in conjunction with said cylinders constituting valves which, during the rotation of saidv cylinders, effect pressure upon opposite sides of said web at predetermined intervals, thereby engaging and disengaging alternate successive portions of the web with each cylinder, whereby said portions are deflected in opposite directions and folded one upon'another in zigzag form. I

13. In combination, a pair of rollers adapted to rotate toward each other, each of which has channels extending therethrough' which terminate at its periphery, a stationary member seated in the opposite end of each of said then disengaged therefrom, said cylinders operating to deflect the alternate successive portions of the web 111 different directions and superimpose them one upon the other in zigzag arrangement.

14. In combination, a pair of rollers adapted to rotate toward each other, each of which has channels extending therethrough which terminate at its periphery, a stationary member seated in the opposite end of each of said cylinders, one of which has a connection with a source of suction and the other thereof with a source of fluid ressure, 'said members cooperating with said cylinders during the rotation thereof to cause alternate suction and pressure upon opposite surfaces of the web, whereby alternate successive portions thereof are held in contact with each cylinder during a predetermined arc of its rotation and then disengaged therefrom, sald cyllnders operating to deflect the alternate successlve' por- 'tions of the web in different directions and superimpose them one upon the other in zigzag arrangement, and means for adjusting the relative position of said members with respect to the cylinders.

15. A cylinder for a fluid pressure operated web folding machine comprising, in combination, a cylindrical lmember provided with peripheral a ertures which lead toward either end thereo means located at one end of the cylinder for drawing air inward through said apertures, and means located at the opposite end thereof for forcing air outwardly therethrough.

l16. A cylinder for a fluid pressure webfolding apparatus comprising, in combination, a cylindrical member provided with peripheral apertures which lead toward either end thereof, and a member seated in one end of said cylinder and coperatin therewith to draw air inw-ard through sai apertures, and a member seated in the opposite end of said cylinder for forcing air outwardly through said apertures.

In testimony 4whereof I aiix my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

EUGEN KLEIN.

Witnesses:

ALFRED A. BREDow, t PAUL ARRAS. 

